Buddhist Studies
Buddhist studies, also known as Buddhology, is the academic study of Buddhism. The term Buddhology was coined in the early 20th-century by Estlin Carpenter – a Unitarian minister, to mean the "study of Buddhahood, the nature of the Buddha, and doctrines of a Buddha", but the terms Buddhology and Buddhist studies are generally synonymous in the contemporary context. According to William M. Johnston, in some specific contexts, Buddhology may be viewed as a subset of Buddhist studies, with a focus on Buddhist hermeneutics, exegesis, ontology and Buddha's attributes. Scholars of Buddhist studies focus on the history, culture, archaeology, arts, philology, anthropology, sociology, theology, philosophy, practices, interreligious comparative studies and other subjects related to Buddhism.
In contrast to the study of Judaism or Christianity, the field of Buddhist studies has been dominated by "outsiders" to Buddhist cultures and traditions. However, Japanese universities have also made major contributions, as have Asian immigrants to Western countries, and Western converts to Buddhism.
* Description and images provided by Wikipedia under CC-BY-SA 3.0 license .
Matching Buddhist Studies Colleges
Institute of Buddhist Studies
Four or more years; Private not for profit |
Won Institute of Graduate Studies
Four or more years; Private not for profit |
Scholarships for Buddhist Studies Majors
Beinecke Scholarship - Dartmouth CollegeDartmouth College |
|||||
award $34,000 |
deadline Varies |
||||
DescriptionThe Beinecke Scholarship is open to juniors at Dartmouth College who plan to enter a master's or doctoral program in the arts, humanities or social sciences. You must be a U.S. citizen or a U.S. national from American Samoa or the Commonwealth of the Northern Marian Islands and demonstrate financial need to qualify for this award. In addition,... View Scholarship Details |
|||||
Rapoport Service ScholarshipUniversity of Texas, Austin, College of Liberal Arts |
|||||
award Up to $30,000 |
deadline February 01, 2026 |
||||
DescriptionThe Rapoport Service Scholarship is available to freshmen enrolled in the College of Liberal Arts at the University of Texas at Austin. You must have a desire to perform community service, agree to perform at least 200 hours of community service each summer, and take coursework that provides an intellectual foundation for your experience in... View Scholarship Details |
|||||
McAllaster Honors Scholarship - Greenville UniversityGreenville University |
|||||
award $20,500 |
deadline Varies |
||||
DescriptionThe McAllaster Honors Scholarship is available to incoming freshmen and transfer students at Greenville University. You must have a minimum GPA of 3.3 to be eligible for this renewable award. Additionally, you must live on-campus. This scholarship program nurtures excellent students who are especially gifted to serve God and neighbor through... View Scholarship Details |
|||||
Lotus ScholarshipUniversity of the West |
|||||
award Up to $7,000 |
deadline April 01, 2026 |
||||
DescriptionThe Lotus Scholarship is available to undergraduate and graduate students pursuing a bachelor's or master's degree at the University of the West. You must have a minimum 3.25 GPA to be eligible for this award. View Scholarship Details |
|||||
IBEF ScholarshipUniversity of the West |
|||||
award Up to $4,500 |
deadline November 15, 2025 |
||||
DescriptionThe IBEF Scholarship is available to full - time undergraduate and graduate students studying religious studies or Buddhist chaplaincy at the University of the West. You must have a minimum 3.5 GPA to be eligible for this award. ESL monastic students are also eligible to apply. View Scholarship Details |
|||||
Catherine F. Vuozzo ScholarshipUniversity of Maryland, College Park - College of Arts and Humanities |
|||||
award $1,000 |
deadline Varies |
||||
DescriptionThe Catherine F. Vuozzo Scholarship is available to full-time undergraduate liberal arts majors at the University of Maryland, College Park. Your selection for this award will be based on academic merit, financial need and an essay (2 pages double spaced) on the topic, "What does it mean to be an 'educated' person? What is the role of the... View Scholarship Details |
|||||
Undergraduate Research Award - University of Texas, AustinUniversity of Texas, Austin, College of Liberal Arts |
|||||
award $1,000 |
deadline August 31, 2026 |
||||
DescriptionThe Undergraduate Research Award is available to full-time undergraduates enrolled in the College of Liberal Arts at the University of Texas at Austin. You must be a declared liberal arts major to be eligible for this award. View Scholarship Details |
|||||
First Gaston Foundation Liberal Arts ScholarshipGaston College |
|||||
award $1,000 |
deadline December 31, 2025 |
||||
DescriptionThe First Gaston Foundation Liberal Arts Scholarship is available to students at Gaston College. You must be seeking a degree in the Liberal Arts Division to be considered for this award. This scholarship is based on academic achievement and need. View Scholarship Details |
|||||
Liberal Arts Academic Excellence Scholarship - UT-AustinUniversity of Texas, Austin, College of Liberal Arts |
|||||
award Up to $2,500 |
deadline March 31, 2026 |
||||
DescriptionThe Liberal Arts Academic Excellence Scholarship is available to continuing students enrolled in the College of Liberal Arts at the University of Texas at Austin. You must have completed at least 30 credit hours at UT, have a minimum 3.7 GPA, and have completed at least one semester of the Liberal Arts program. View Scholarship Details |
|||||
Wanninger Foundation ScholarshipWestern Illinois University, Arts and Science |
|||||
award $500 |
deadline Varies |
||||
DescriptionThe Wanninger Foundation Scholarship is open to undergraduate and graduate students at Western Illinois University whose education was interrupted by at least two years. You must be majoring in English, liberal arts, music education or vocal performance to qualify for this award. View Scholarship Details |